Final hours until beloved burger joint closes down forever as diners spot chain removing iconic sign
For a beloved Cincinnati burger joint, the removal of a landmark sign signifies the end of an era.
After Frisch’s Big Boy in Fairfax, Ohio closed in December, workers removed the Mainliner sign earlier this week.
The flagship establishment, which opened in 1939 and predated even the Big Boy brand, was the oldest in the chain of Franz restaurants.
Frisch’s website claims that it was the first year-round drive-in in the area and was named after the first tri-motor passenger jet.
Following legal action over unpaid rent, the Mainliner permanently closed on December 23 along with a number of other Frisch’s sites.
On December 13, Hamilton County Magistrates issued a court order evicting the restaurant.
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According to Yahoo! Finance, the Orlando, Florida-based landlord, NNN Reit, served eviction papers in November and claimed that $4.5 million in unpaid rent was due.
According to the company’s website, there were 200 Frisch’s restaurants in its prime.
But as of right now, the website only lists 21 locations: three in Indiana, seven in Kentucky, and eleven in Ohio.
IN THE COMMENTS
The sign will now have a new lease of life at the American Sign Museum in Camp Washington.
Social media users have differing opinions about the signs’ disassembly.
One member on the Facebook group Retail Dead or Alive stated, “My mother is spinning in her grave and retail history.”
Another person said, “I’m glad it’s going to the museum, at least.”
A third, however, made the following observation: Maybe they might sell other invoices they have that need to be paid; it looks like something collectors would be interested in purchasing.
EATERY ISSUES
There have been challenges for other restaurant chains in recent months besides the Frisch’s Big Boy franchise.
After 31 years of operation, Chick-Fil-A shuttered its Jackson, Mississippi, location at the end of 2024.
Restaurant closures in 2024
Major restaurant businesses’ bosses have announced a number of closures. A list of the chain’s impacted members has been compiled by the U.S. Sun.
-
Cracker Barrel:
Stores in Medford, Oregon, Columbia, South Carolina, and Sacramento, California, have closed. -
Mod Pizza:
Bosses dramatically shuttered 27 shops in April, including some in the state of California. -
Frisch’s Big Boy:
Restaurant chiefs confirmed the closure of a restaurant in Covington, Kentucky in April. -
Outback Steakhouse:
The chain will shutter 41 ‘underperforming’ locations this year. -
Two Bucks:
Four restaurants in Ohio closed in April. -
Chili’s:
A restaurant in Port Arthur, Texas, has shut permanently as well as one in Irvine, California, and one in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. -
Friendly’s:
Bosses confirmed an establishment in Ronkonkoma, Long Island will close. -
Pizza Hut:
A restaurant in Glen Falls, New York, closed at the end of March, followed by four in Ohio in June and 15 in Indiana. This was followed in July by a bankruptcy filing from its parent company which announced the closure of 150 locations. -
Carl’s Jr.
: The first Boise, Idaho location has closed. -
In-N-Out
: An Oakland location closed earlier in the year due to crime in the area. -
Cheesecake Factory
: The chain is set to shutter a location in Memphis, Tennessee in July. -
Applebee’s
: Announced the closure of between 25 and 35 locations this year. -
Red Lobster:
The seafood chain filed for bankruptcy in May and shuttered over 100 locations. -
Taco John’s:
Shuttered a restaurant in Minnesota and put the building up for sale in May. -
Frisco’s Chicken:
The poultry restaurant shuttered all of its locations over the summer -
Rubio’s Coastal Grill:
Has announced the closure of 48 locations in California after filing for bankruptcy. -
Burger King:
Shuttered a location in California in June after 30 years. -
Foster’s Freeze:
Shuttered a location in California after five decades in business due to financial struggles. -
Chicken Salad Chick:
After nine years the restaurant shuttered one location in Jacksonville, Florida, with no reason given. -
M xico Lindo
: The New York City-based restaurant announced its final day after 52 years and finally shuttered its doors for good on July 31. -
American Dream Pizza:
Closed all of its locations in Oregon in July. -
Tender Greens:
The Southern California-based chain filed for bankruptcy. -
Lefty’s Famous Cheesesteaks, Hoagies, & Grill
: Abruptly shuttered 18 locations in July due to a family feud. -
Firehouse Subs:
Shuttered a location in the Tri-Cities area of Washington State over the summer citing “unforeseen circumstances” -
Taco Time:
The Taco Bell rival shuttered a location in Seattle after 50 years following a death in the franchise owner’s family. -
Burgerim
: Shuttered a location in Burlington, Massachusetts in July, reigniting bankruptcy fears from 2020. -
Denny’s:
The chain has shuttered over 40 locations so far this year with the owner of the one outlet blaming vandalism. -
Starbucks:
The chain shuttered one of its most iconic locations in New York City after almost three decades with fans blaming crime. It also lost a location in Seattle. -
Subway:
In August, the sandwich chain shuttered over 20 locations across the US and Canada after a franchisee lost money after being a victim of fraud. -
IHOP:
A restaurant in New Hampshire shut its doors after 24 years, leaving four locations in the state. -
Switchback Coffee Roasters:
The popular chain filed for bankruptcy in August after over a decade in business. -
Jimmy John’s:
The sandwich shop chain shuttered a location in Nevada on August 19 after 12 years citing overexpansion issues. -
KFC
: Closed the remaining three locations in Rockford, Illinois all on the same day on August 19. In total, it closed six locations across four cities in Illinois. -
Rusty Bucket:
The chicken shop chain confirmed it would officially leave Florida as it announced a handful of closures including in Sarasota and Ohio. -
Buca di Beppo:
The Olive Garden rival abruptly shuttered 44 locations across five states before filing for bankruptcy. -
Red Robin
: Announced the closure of its Ashburn, Virginia location on August 25 after 15 years in business. -
Noodles & Company
: Shuttered dozens of locations due to their contribution to around $2 million worth of losses. -
Shoney’s
: The classic American-style food chain founded in 1947 officially exited Ohio after three decades of business as it reduced its operational footprint. -
Homegrown:
The sandwich chain based in Seattle announced the closure of 10 locations leaving 150 employees in the lurch. -
World of Beer:
Filed for bankruptcy after closing 14 outlets. -
Arby’s:
The chain announced a number of closures this year including in Lexington, Kentucky, Akron, Ohio, -
Uno Pizzeria & Grill:
Shuttered a location in New Jersey in July, leaving just two in the state, followed by the closure of a Baltimore location in August. -
Hart House:
Shutterd all four locations in California in September just two years after the vegan fast-food restaurant chain was launched by actor and comedian Kevin Hart.
Customers received a note informing them of the closure, and many were saddened.
At the conclusion of the previous year, about a dozen Wendy’s restaurants in Michigan shuttered.
Wendy, the CEOIn October, Kirk Tannerhad declared that 140 outlets in underperforming areas will permanently close.
He did, however, add that the firm, which is currently the second-largest fast-food chain in America, would keep opening new locations worldwide.
During an October earnings call last year, he stated, “We are concentrating on opening new restaurants because we know they deliver well above the average of these underperforming restaurants.”
All things considered, we want to provide the greatest dining experiences for our patrons.
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